p^!*. 

FEOtit 


International  Conciliation 

PRO  PATH  I A PER  ORB  IS  CONCORDIAM 

Published  Monthly  by  the 

Amedcan  Branch  Association  for  International  Conciliation 


THE  POLICY -OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  AND 
JAPAN  IN  THE  FAR  EAST 

Text  of  Notes  Exchanged  on  November  30.  1 908 


NOVEMBER,  1908,  NO.  12 


American  Branch  of  the  Association  for  International  Conciliation 
Sub-station  84  (501  West  1 16th  Street) 

New  York  City 


The  particular  objects  of  the  American 
Association  for  International  Conciliation  are, 
to  record,  preserve  and  disseminate  the  history 
of  organized  efforts  for  promoting  internation- 
al peace  and  relations  of  comity  and  good 
fellowship  between  nations,  to  print  and  cir- 
culate documents  and  otherwise  to  aid  indi- 
vidual citizens,  the  newspaper  press,  and 
organizations  of  various  kinds  to  obtain  ac- 
curate information  and  just  views  upon  these 
subjects;  and  to  promote  in  all  practicable  ways 
mutual  understanding  and  good  feeling 
between  the  American  people  and  those  of 
other  nations. 


INTRODUCTION 


The  important  Notes  exchanged  between 
the  United  States  and  Japan  on  November  30, 
1908,  declaring  the  policy  of  the  two  nations 
in  regard  to  the  Far  East,  is  a political  event 
of  more  than  usual  significance.  For  a gen- 
eration past  the  eyes  of  statesmen  and  diplo- 
matists have  been  turned  to  the  Far  East,  and 
there  have  been  many  times  when  dangerous 
complications  of  an  international  character 
seemed  likely  to  ensue  from  the  conflicting 
wishes  and  ambitions  of  the  various  nations  to 
secure  each  for  itself  political  or  commercial 
advantage  in  that  part  of  the  world.  The 
geographical  relation  of  the  United  States  and 
Japan  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  considered  as  a 
means  of  communication  between  men  and 
nations  and  as  a highway  of  commerce,  ren- 
dered it  more  than  fitting  that  these  two  great 
civilized  peoples  should  be  in  agreement  as  to 
the  political  and  commercial  policies  to  be 


3 


pursued  during  the  years  that  now  stretch  out 
before  us.  It  w^as  no  less  important  that 
agreement  as  to  these  policies  should  be 
publicly  signified  and  recorded. 

These  admirable  Notes  by  their  precision, 
their  freedom  from  ambiguity  and  their  cordial 
expressions  of  confidence  and  good  will,  make 
it  clear  that  so  far  as  the  influence  of  the 
United  States  and  Japan  can  prevail,  the 
progress  of  civilization  in  the  Far  East  and  in 
the  development  of  the  commercial  possibili- 
ties of  the  Pacific  Ocean  and  the  countries 
tributary  thereto,  will  not  be  impeded  or  re- 
tarded by  wars  and  rumors  of  wars,  or  by 
increasine  manifestations  of  national  boast- 
fulness,  suspicion  and  greed,  but  that  it  will 
progress  steadily  forward  along  the  lines  of 
orderly  and  peaceful  competition  and  co- 
operation. 

NICHOLAS  MURRAY  BUTLER 


4 


NOTES  EXCHANGED  BETWEEN  THE  UNITED 
STATES  AND  JAPAN  NOVEMBER  30.  1908, 
DECLARING  THEIR  POLICY  IN 
THE  FAR  EAST. 


IMPERIAL  JAPANESE  EMBASSY 
WASHINGTON 

Novp:mber  30,  1908. 

Sir  : 

The  exchange  of  views  between  ns,  which 
has  taken  place  at  the  several  interviews  which 
I have  recently  had  the  honor  of  holding  with 
you,  has  shown  that  Japan  and  the  United 
States  holding  important  outlying  insular  pos- 
sessions in  the  region  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  the 
Governments  of  the  two  countries  are  ani- 
mated by  a common  aim,  policy,  and  intention 
in  that  region. 

Believing  that  a frank  avowal  of  that  aim, 
policy,  and  intention  would  not  only  tend  to 
strengthen  the  relations  of  friendship  and 


5 


good  neighborhood,  which  have  immemorially 
existed  between  Japan  and  the  United  States, 
but  would  materially  contribute  to  the  preser- 
vation of  the  general  peace,  the  Imperial 
Government  have  authorized  me  to  present  to 
you  an  outline  of  their  understanding  of  that 
common  aim,  policy,  and  intention  : 

1.  It  is  the  wish  of  the  two  Governments 
to  encourage  the  free  and  peaceful  develop- 
ment of  their  commerce  on  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

2.  The  policy  of  both  Governments,  un- 
influenced by  any  aggressive  tendencies,  is 
directed  to  the  maintenance  of  the  existing 
status  quo  in  the  region  above  mentioned  and 
to  the  defense  of  the  principle  of  equal  op- 
portunity for  commerce  and  industry  in  China. 

3.  They  are  accordingly  firmly  resolved 
reciprocally  to  respect  the  territorial  posses- 
sions belonging  to  each  other  in  said  region. 

4.  They  are  also  determined  to  preserve 
the  common  interest  of  all  powers  in  China  by 
supporting  by  all  pacific  means  at  their  dis- 
posal the  independence  and  integrity  of  China 

6 


and  the  principle  of  equal  opportunity  for 
commerce  and  industry  of  all  nations  in  that 
Empire. 

5.  Should  any  event  occur  threatening  the 
status  quo  as  above  described  or  the  principle 
of  equal  opportunity  as  above  defined,  it  re- 
mains for  the  two  Governments  to  communi- 
cate with  each  other  in  order  to  arrive  at  an 
understanding  as  to  what  measures  they  may 
consider  it  useful  to  take. 

If  the  foregoing  outline  accords  with  the 
view  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States, 
I shall  be  gratified  to  receive  your  confirma- 
tion. 

I take  this  opportunity  to  renew  to  Your 
Excellency  the  assurance  of  my  highest  con- 
sideration. 

K.  Takahira 

Honorable  Elihu  Root 

Secretary  of  State 


7 


Department  of  State 


Was/iington,  November  jo,  igo8. 
Excellency  : 

I have  the  honor  to  acknowledgre  the 
receipt  of  your  note  of  to-day  setting  forth 
the  result  of  the  exchange  of  views  between 
us  in  our  recent  interviews  defining  the  under- 
standing of  the  two  Governments  in  regard  to 
their  policy  in  the  region  of  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

It  is  a pleasure  to  inform  you  that  this  ex- 
pression of  mutual  understanding  is  welcome 
to  the  Government  of  the  United  States  as 
appropriate  to  the  happy  relations  of  the  two 
countries  and  as  the  occasion  for  a concise 
mutual  affirmation  of  that  accordant  policy  re- 
specting the  Far  East  which  the  two  Govern- 
ments have  so  frequently  declared  in  the  past. 

I am  happy  to  be  able  to  confirm  to  Your 
Excellency,  on  behalf  of  the  United  States, 
the  declaration  of  the  two  Governments  em- 
bodied in  the  following  words  : 


8 


1.  It  is  the  wish  of  the  two  Governments 
to  encourage  the  free  and  peaceful  develop- 
ment of  their  commerce  on  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

2.  The  policy  of  both  Governments,  un- 
influenced by  any  aggressive  tendencies,  is 
directed  to  the  maintenance  of  the  existing 
status  quo  in  the  region  above  mentioned,  and 
to  the  defense  of  the  principle  of  equal  oppor- 
tunity for  commerce  and  industry  in  China. 

3.  They  are  accordingly  firm!)'  resolved 
reciprocally  to  respect  the  territorial  posses- 
sions belonging  to  each  other  in  said  region. 

4.  They  are  also  determined  to  preserve 
the  common  interests  of  all  powers  in  China 
by  supporting  by  all  pacific  means  at  their  dis- 
posal the  independence  and  integrity  of  China 
and  the  principle  of  equal  opportunity  for 
commerce  and  industry  of  all  nations  in  that 
Empire. 

5.  Should  any  event  occur  threatening 
the  status  quo  as  above  described  or  the 
principle  of  equal  opportunity  as  above  de- 
fined, it  remains  for  the  two  Governments  to 


9 


communicate  with  each  other  in  order  to  arrive 
at  an  understanding  as  to  what  measures  they 
may  consider  it  useful  to  take. 

Accept,  Excellency,  the  renewed  assurance 
of  my  highest  consideration. 

Eli  HU  Root 


His  Excellency 

Baron  Kogoro  Takahira 

Japanese  Ambassador 


lo 


Up  to  the  limit  of  the  editions  printed,  copies  of  the  following 
documents,  published  by  the  Association,  will  be  sent  post-paid 
upon  application. 

1.  Program  of  the  Association,  by  Baron  d’Estournelles  de 
Constant.  April,  1907. 

2.  Results  of  the  National  Arbitration  and  Peace  Congress,  by 
Andrew  Carnegie.  April,  1907. 

3.  A League  of  Peace,  by  Andrew  Carnegie.  November,  1907. 

4.  The  Results  of  the  Second  Hague  Conference,  by  Baron 
d’Estournelles  de  Constant  and  Hon.  David  Jayne  Hill.  January, 
1908. 

5.  The  Work  of  the  Second  Hague  Conference,  by  James  Brown 
Scott.  January,  1908. 

6.  Possibilities  of  Intellectual  Co-operation  Between  North  and 
South  America,  by  L.  S.  Rowe.  April,  1908. 

7.  America  and  Japan,  by  George  Trumbull  Ladd.  June,  1908. 

8.  The  Sanction  of  International  Law,  by  Elihu  Root.  July,  1908. 

9.  The  United  States  and  France,  by  Barrett  Wendell.  August, 
1908. 

10.  The  Approach  of  the  Two  Americas,  by  Joaquim  Nabuco. 
September,  1908. 

11.  The  United  States  and  Canada,  by  J.  S.  Willison.  October, 
1908. 

12.  The  Policy  of  the  United  States  and  Japan  in  the  Far  East. 

Association  for  International  Conciliation. 
American  Branch, 

Sub-station  84,  New  York. 


Executive  Committee  of  the  American  Branch 


Nicholas  Murray  Butler 
Richard  Bartholdt 
Lyman  Abbott 
James  Speyer 


Robert  A.  Franks 


Richard  Watson  Gilder 
Stephen  Henry  Olin 
Seth  Low 
Andrew  D.  White 


COUNCIL  OF  DIRECTION  FOR  THE  AMERICAN  BRANCH 
OF  THE  ASSOCIATION  FOR  INTERNATIONAL 
CONCILIATION 


Lyman  Abbott,  New  York. 

Charles  Francis  Adams,  Boston. 

Edwin  A.  Alderman,  Charlottesville,  Va. 
Charles  H.  Ames,  Boston,  Mass. 

Richard  Bartholdt,  M.  C,,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Clifton  R.  Breckenridge,  Fort  Smith,  Arkansas. 
William  J.  Bryan,  Lincoln,  Neb. 

T.  E.  Burton,  M.  C.,  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Nicholas  Murray  Butler,  New  York. 

Andrew  Carnegie,  New  York. 

Edward  Cary,  New  York. 

Joseph  H.  Choate,  New  York. 

Richard  H.  Dana,  Boston,  Mass. 

Arthur  L.  Dasher,  Macon.  Ga. 

Horace  E.  Deming,  New  York. 

Charles  W.  Eliot,  Cambridge,  Mass. 

John  W.  Foster,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Richard  Watson  Gilder,  New  York. 

John  Arthur  Greene,  New  York. 

James  M.  Greenwood,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Franklin  H.  Head,  Chicago,  III. 

William  J.  Holland,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

Hamilton  Holt,  NewTork. 

James  L.  Houghtaling,  Chicago,  III. 

David  Starr  Jordan,  Stanford  University,  Cal. 
Edmond  Kelly,  New  York. 

Adolph  Lewisohn,  New  York. 

Seth  Low,  New  York. 

Clarence  H.  Mackay,  New  York. 

W.  A.  Mahonv,  Columbus,  Ohio. 

Brander  Matthews,  New  York. 

W.  W.  Morrow,  San  Francisco,  Cal. 

George  B.  McClellan,  Mayor  of  New  York. 
Levi  P.  Morton,  New  York. 

Silas  McBee,  New  York. 

Simon  Newcomb,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Stephen  H.  Ulin,  New  York. 

A.  V.  V.  Raymond,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Ira  Remsen,  Baltimore,  Md. 

James  Ford  Rhodes,  Boston,  Mass. 

Howard  J.  Rogers,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Elihu  Root,  Washington,  D.  C. 

J.  G.  Schurman,  Ithaca,  N.  Y. 

Isaac  N.  Seligman,  New  York. 

F.  J.  V.  Skiff,  Chicago,  III. 

William  M.  Sloane,  New  York. 

Albert  K.  Smiley,  Lake  Mohonk,  N.  Y. 

James  Speyer,  New  York. 

Oscar  S.  Straus,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Mrs.  Mary  Wood  Swift,  San  Francisco,  Cal. 
George  W.  Taylor,  M.  C.,  Demopolis,  Ala. 

O.  H.  Tittman,  Washington,  D.  C. 

W.  H.  Tolman,  New  York. 

Benjamin  Tkueblood,  Boston,  Mass. 

Edward  Tuck,  Paris,  France. 

William  D.  Wheelwright,  Portland,  Ore. 
Andrew  D.  White,  Ithaca,  N.  Y. 


IRVING  PRESS,  NEW  YORK 


